// ARTICLE


Building for water security


and despite the prolonged rainfall of the beginning of 2026, the UK is still recovering.


Following the dry summer of 2025, the Environment Agency warned that even with average winter rainfall some areas in Britain would still be in drought next spring,1


T


he recent weather pattern variations can only compound the


existing concerns about the anticipated UK water deficit. To offset the predicted daily deficit of 4017 mega litres per day by 2050, major water companies have been developing plans to upgrade the UKs water supply and reduce current usage from 150 litres per person per day to 110.


Smart meters are seen as a significant part of the solution to reducing domestic water usage, Thames Water have recorded post installation savings of 12-17%2


, most major UK water


companies have announced their plans for Advanced metering infrastructure, where all new connections or meters will replaced with the latest generation of smart meters.


Groundbreaker – the best location for smart meters


Groundbreaker is an insulated, surface mounted enclosure for a secure water management system and smart water meter. This locates the meter above ground, providing a better environment for smart technology over traditional underground boundary boxes, extends signal transmission and allows easy meter exchange.


The unique location of the Groundbreaker water management system future proofs the network and minimises the risk of developing future leaks. The position of the meter allows for an unjointed water supply, hence maintaining the integrity of the supply. The use of an uninterrupted supply has been recognised as best practice by


16 Winter 2026 M38


Water UK and the Home Builders Federation.


Groundbreaker is ideal for Modern Methods of Construction, as it effectively provide a ‘plug and play’ option for water services, with pre fitting of plumbing and a single connection to the pre laid supply. Its location on the building also means no street furniture or liability


in the highway.


Save water, save energy, save money


Stewart Clements, Director of the Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) explained. “It’s important that those responsible for building new homes and for upgrading existing homes – including both social and private housing providers and landlords – recognise the different factors involved in minimising energy consumption and in making tomorrow’s homes the efficient properties needed to achieve decarbonisation and reach the net zero target for 2050.”3


‘The energy used to heat water for devices and appliances emits an average of 875kg of CO2 per household per year. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from driving more than 1,700 miles in an average family car.”4


Energy Saving Trust


Whilst water efficient appliances, i.e. dishwashers and washing machines, can reduce domestic


water and energy usage, much of this hot water used in ‘time critical’ usage e.g. taking a shower or running the tap to rinse dishes.


Lo-Flo – additional water saving, built in


To further improve home water efficiency, major water companies are also rolling out flow regulating devices, such as Groundbreaker’s LoFlo®. These modulate the level of flow entering premises – regardless of network pressure, meaning a reduction in the level of water used by customers when ‘variable use’ appliances (i.e., showers, taps, hosepipes). As the flow of water into the premises is limited, then the amount used by the customer is also limited – but without providing a degradation of service, and more importantly not requiring any intervention or behavioural change on the part of the customer.


The NRv2 LoFlo® can be easily and simply fitted to any meter installation or retrofitted on meter exchange or when upgrading or remediating underground meter chambers. Thus, allowing Water Companies to manage demand with little or no impact on consumers and at minimal cost to the water undertakers.


Whether it’s new build or redevelopment, Groundbreaker has a range of products to design in water efficient homes.


groundbreaker.co.uk 1. gov.uk/government/publications/drought-prospects-for-spring-2026


2. database.waterwise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/J37880- Waterwise_Water_Efficiency_Strategy_Inners_Landscape_WEB.pdf 3. www.housingmmonline.co.uk/news/fabric-first-still-makes-sense


4. Ref: An average passenger car (any fuel) emits 0.311 kgCO2 per mile. Source: 2012 Guidelines to Defra/ DECC’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.


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